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At both conceptual and applied levels, quantum physics provides new opportunities as well as fundamental limitations. We hypothetically ask whether quantum games inspired by population dynamics can benefit from unique features of quantum mechanics such as entanglement and nonlocality. For doing so, we extend quantum game theory and demonstrate that in certain models inspired by ecological systems where several predators feed on the same prey, the strength of quantum entanglement between the various species has a profound effect on the asymptotic behavior of the system. For example, if there are sufficiently many predator species who are all equally correlated with their prey, they are all driven to extinction. Our results are derived in two ways: by analyzing the asymptotic dynamics of the system, and also by modeling the system as a quantum correlation network. The latter approach enables us to apply various tools from classical network theory in the above quantum scenarios. Several generalizations and applications are discussed.

In this paper we develop an approach for detecting entanglement, which is based on measuring quantum correlations and constructing a correlation matrix. The correlation matrix is then used for defining a family of parameters, named Correlation Minor Norms, which allow one to detect entanglement. This approach generalizes the computable cross-norm or realignment (CCNR) criterion, and moreover requires measuring a state-independent set of operators. Furthermore, we illustrate a scheme which yields for each Correlation Minor Norm a separable state that maximizes it. The proposed entanglement detection scheme is believed to be advantageous in comparison to other methods because correlations have a simple, intuitive meaning and in addition they can be directly measured in experiment. Moreover, it is demonstrated to be stronger than the CCNR criterion. We also illustrate the relation between the Correlation Minor Norm and entanglement entropy for pure states. Finally, we discuss the relation between the Correlation Minor Norm and quantum discord. We demonstrate that the CMN may be used to define a new measure for quantum discord.

The operational approach to time is a cornerstone of relativistic theories, as evidenced by the notion of proper time. In standard quantum mechanics, however, time is an external parameter. Recently, many attempts have been made to extend the notion of proper time to quantum mechanics within a relational framework. Here, we use similar ideas combined with the relativistic mass-energy equivalence to study an accelerating massive quantum particle with an internal clock system. We show that the ensuing evolution from the perspective of the particle’s internal clock is non-Hermitian. This result does not rely on specific implementations of the clock. As a particular consequence, we prove that the effective Hamiltonian of two gravitationally interacting particles is non-Hermitian from the perspective of the clock of either particle. Relativistic theories brought the operational notion of time to the center stage of physics. Here, the authors show that effective unitary dynamics is not guaranteed if this notion is extended to quantum mechanics when relativistic corrections are considered in relational frameworks.

In this somewhat pedagogical paper we revisit complementarity relations in bipartite quantum systems. Focusing on continuous-variable systems, we examine the influential class of EPR-like states through a generalization to Gaussian states and present some new quantitative relations between entanglement and local interference within symmetric and asymmetric double-double-slit scenarios. This approach is then related to ancilla-based quantum measurements, and weak measurements in particular. Finally, we tie up the notions of distinguishability, predictability, coherence and visibility while drawing some specific connections between them.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the patient characteristics, clinical manifestations, microbiology, and modes of treatment of a large cohort of women with acute Bartholin’s abscess, from a single medical center. A retrospective study was undertaken of all women diagnosed with acute Bartholin’s gland abscess who were admitted to the gynecology department in a university-affiliated tertiary hospital in central Israel from January 2004 to December 2013. A total of 267 women were included in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.5 ± 12.1 years and the mean hospitalization period was 1.4 ± 0.9 days. Pain presented in 152 (56.9 %), swelling in 81 (30.3 %), and fever in 34 (12.7 %). Leukocytosis was detected in 149 (55.8 %). The three main treatment modalities were: antibiotics (75.7 %), abscess drainage (19.1 %), and marsupialization (80.9 %). Bacterial infections were detected in 154 (57.7 %) cultures, Escherichia coli presented in 59 (22.1 %), and Streptococcus species in 27 (10.1 %). The clinical and patient characteristics were similar between women with bacterial and sterile Bartholin’s abscesses, though leukocytosis was more prevalent among women with bacterial infections. E. coli was the single most frequent pathogen in cultures of acute Bartholin’s abscess. Respiratory tract-associated organisms were also common. This study indicates the polymicrobial spectrum of acute Bartholin’s abscess.

Purpose Data on non-fermentative Gram-negative rods (NFGNR) bacteremia in children with malignancies are limited. The aim of this study was to present clinical picture, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, risk factors for resistance and outcome in NFGNR bacteremia in children with cancer. Methods All episodes of NFGNR bacteremia occurring during 2001–2014 in children with cancer in a tertiary-care hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp. resistant to three or more antibiotic classes and all Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) were defined as multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). Results A total of 80 children (44 males, 0.8–18 years, median 5 years) developed 107 episodes (116 pathogens) of NFGNR bacteremia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) (51; 43.9%), Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) (21, 18.1%), SM (18, 15.5%); and others (27, 25.2%). The rate of NFGNR bacteremia in children with certain solid tumors (e.g. sarcoma, 12/134 (9.0%)) was comparable to that of hematological malignancies (52/429 (12.2%). Focal infection and septic shock occurred in 16 (14.9%) and four (3.7%) episodes, respectively. Thirty (25.8%) of 116 NFGNR were MDR. The most significant predictors of bacteremia with MDR PA or AB were severe neutropenia (<100 cells/mm 3 ; OR 7.8, p  = 0.002), hospital-acquired (OR 16.9, p  < 0.0001) and breakthrough (OR 11.2, p  < 0.0001) infection. Infection with MDR bacteria was associated with inappropriate empirical therapy. The 30-day mortality was 3/107 (2.8%), all in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies. Conclusions NFGNR bacteremia can present with nonspecific signs or symptoms. MDR NFGNRs are common and compromise treatment options, but mortality is relatively low. Knowledge of local epidemiology, pattern and risk factors for resistance is important to guide empirical therapy.

Solid organic waste contaminated with radionuclides is a challenging wasteform in its raw state. NRCN, as the national repository for radioactive waste in Israel, accepts all such waste from industry, hospitals, universities and from the Israeli nuclear research centers. Organic waste is characterized by its high volume to weight ratio, together with the hazard of its radiolysis and consequently, the generation of combustible and explosive gases (e.g. H2 and light hydrocarbons). Thus, minimizing waste volumes together with stabilizing the wasteform are of high significance in the treatment of contaminated polymers. In this study, the thermal decomposition process is aimed at maximizing the room temperature gas yield, and minimizing the oil and wax fraction that will be harder to entrain in a large scale system. High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a thermoplastic polyolefin characterized by its high strength and diverse utilities. In the current research, we investigated the thermal decomposition of HDPE using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at the milligram scale; whereas a laboratory scale thermal decomposition system was utilized for experiments at the gram scale. The TGA method enables the study of the thermal decomposition parameters, whereas the macro-scale experimental system enables the study of the decomposition products (e.g. char, wax, oil and gas). Polymer decomposition was studied under variable atmospheres, ranging from pure pyrolysis, under a nitrogen atmosphere, to gasification under 88% nitrogen and 12% oxygen atmosphere in the macro-scale system (with a similar total gas flow rate). Only pyrolytic conditions were applied in the TGA

Silica Fume is a commonly used pozzolanic additive for cementitious matrices used for immobilization of Low Level Waste (LLW). Cementitious systems containing silica-fume are used to reduce the leachability of various hazardous species. However, during the last years several publications have shown that commercially available densified silica-fume (DSF) does not fully disperse within cementitious pastes and concrete mixes, but rather tends to form agglomerated particles which range in size from tens to hundreds of microns. Cementitious matrices containing such agglomerates are prone to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). As radioactive waste streams often contain high alkali salt concentrations, the occurrence of ASR, deleterious osmotic pressure or other degradation mechanisms in cementitious waste matrices must be considered. The aim of this research was to study the effect of high salt content in DSF bearing pastes on the integrity of the immobilized waste form and its efficiency to immobilize low level radioactive waste. The dependence of matrix integrity on both salt and silica fume concentration is presented.